1802 - America and the Barbary States, The George-Washington at Algiers, War with Tripoli


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol III
1802 Tribute to Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli 167

vessels, and slaves of their people. The United States of America, having a considerable Mediterranean commerce at stake, found it wise to follow the example of the older and richer states of Europe. It is difficult to say how much this sop to the three-headed monster annually cost the American republic ; but, in articles of merchandise, timber, cannon, cordage, money, and now and then a frigate or corvette armed and equipped for war, we should consider that the United States did not pay less to the three regencies than from 100,000 to 150,000 dollars per annum.

In the month of October, 1800, the United States' 32-gun frigate George-Washington, Captain William Bainbridge, was lying at an anchor in the road of Algiers. The dey considered this as a fine opportunity to get the presents, which he, as well as the heads of the other regencies, annually made to the grand seignior, conveyed to Constantinople. The demand for the American frigate to be sent upon this mission was formally made and reluctantly complied with. Laden with presents to the amount of a million and a half of dollars, encumbered with 100 Turks as passengers, and degraded by carrying the flag Algiers at her main topgallantmast-head, the George-Washington sailed for and arrived at Constantinople. Having there disembarked her live and dead lumber, the American frigate sailed. upon her return, and on the 21st of January 1801, re-anchored at Algiers.

The disgraceful use to which an American frigate had thus been put " deeply affected," to use the words of Mr. President Jefferson, " the sensibility, not only of the president, but of the people of the United States. " The " indignity " was certainly calculated to do all this; but we cannot any where discover that the Washington was sent " by force " upon her extraordinary and humiliating mission. We think that both Captain Bainbridge and the American consul, Mr. Richard O'Brien, made out but a poor case to substantiate that fact.

Whatever feelings the submission of these gentlemen may have excited in their own country, its effect was a very natural one in Algiers and the two neighbouring regencies: they became more loud and exorbitant than ever in their demands for money and presents. Algiers, however, was partially appeased by the seasonable arrival of a ship from America with the arrears of the subsidy due to her. But, jealous of the favours shown to the Dey of Algiers, the Bashaw of Tripoli became very outrageous. In some of his conferences with the American consul, the bashaw says, " There is no nation I wish to be at peace with more than yours; but all nations pay me, and so must the Americans. " - " Compliments, although acceptable, are of very little value ; and the heads of the Barbary States know their friends by the value of the presents that they receive from them. " To give a practical proof of his estimation of comments

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